By Marian Balster

Los Altos couple bikes from Peninsula to state capital in two-day trek

ike and Marian Balster recently biked to Sacramento from their home in Los Altos for Marian’s 30th high school reunion during 100-plus-degree weather.

Day one

They traveled across the Dumbarton Bridge to the Fremont bike path along the Alameda Creek Regional Trail.

It crosses the creek at the footbridge near the Alameda Creek Quarries and travels a little farther to Niles avoiding traffic commute times.

The next section of the ride runs north along Foothill Blvd. across Interstate 580 to Amador Valley Road in Dublin. This intersects the Iron Horse Trail. This 21-mile bike and pedestrian path is part of the East Bay Regional Park District. It runs from Dublin to Walnut Creek. The trail is car-free but not always pleasant. Most of the trail is along utility right-of-way so it can be barren and hot.

There are several places to stop along this Iron Horse trail because the trail travels through downtown Danville, Alamo and Walnut Creek. There are also parks along the trail to stop and use restrooms and fill up on water.

Just beyond downtown Walnut Creek is the intersection of the Iron Horse and Contra Costa Canal Trail. This trail is shaded most of the way along an irrigation canal.

All good trails come to an end where the Contra Costa Canal Trail stops at Willow Pass Road in Concord. The Willow Pass is the lesser of three evils from which bikers may choose.

The road has a shoulder most of the way, but cars travel in excess of 50 mph.

At the top of Willow Pass Rd just beyond the Hwy 4 intersection is the start of the Delta de Anza Trail. This 13-mile trail travels from Concord to Oakely. The Delta de Anza Trail is car-less but hot and barren.

The first day ended at mile 86 on Somerville Road in Antioch.

Day two

The second day began early to get a jump on the heat and to cross Antioch bridge. They traveled along 18th St. in Antioch, a busy street with no bike lane. The road is rough and at times there is no shoulder. The Antioch Bridge is approached from Bridgehead Rd. Antioch bridge has a decent bike lane but there is not a physical barrier on the bridge between cyclists and cars. The reward is the remarkable view of Mount Diablo and the Sacramento Delta.

The freedom of biking the levee roads begins three miles beyond the Antioch Bridge. The route goes along Sherman, Brannan and Twitchell, Grand, and Ryer Islands. Biking along Ryer Road the country is farmed for corn, alfalfa, pear, and grapes and vineyards.

Waukeena Road just outside of Cortland on the west side of the river is wonderfully shaded and is adjacent to Elk Slough.

The road ends near Holland Market. Locals chat with the market owners about the weather and work at the surrounding farms.

The last 20 miles to Sacramento is a long way in 105-degree heat. From Clarksburg to Sacramento along South River Road, the Sacramento River is adjacent to the road most of the way.

Coming into West Sacramento was tricky due to a narrow open grate bridge on Jefferson Ave. Because trucks barrel across this narrow bridge, a cyclist has to time the approach behind the trucks. The end of the road is in view at the sight of the Tower Bridge.